Goals from Nabil Touaizi and Bobby Duncan took the game to extra-time
Thursday 25 April 2019 22:49, UK
Liverpool's U18s beat Manchester City 5-3 on penalties to claim the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Liverpool skipper Paul Glatzel held his nerve to slot home the winning penalty after City's Cole Palmer had hit the bar to hand them the advantage.
They needed an 86th minute strike from Bobby Duncan, cousin of Steven Gerrard, to take the game to extra-time and then penalties, after Nabil Touaizi had opened the scoring in first-half stoppage-time.
Liverpool's victory at City's Academy Stadium ends Chelsea's recent dominance of the competition, which they had won every year since 2014, and is the fourth time the Reds have won the trophy.
Felix Nmecha and Touaizi both went close for City in the early stages, the former poking the ball wide after Liverpool keeper Vitezslav Jaros had denied Touaizi.
But the Reds should have taken the lead after ten minutes as Glatzel picked up a loose pass from City goalkeeper Louie Moulden, only for Taylor Harwood-Bellis to get back and clear the ball off the line.
After the frenetic start both sides calmed down and a number of crunching tackles went in before Man City skipper Tommy Doyle hit the side-netting when one-on-one with Jaros.
But they did not have to wait long for the opener. After another strong attack down the left, Touaizi was on-hand to convert and put the hosts 1-0 up.
Liverpool came out firing after half-time as they looked for a way back into the final. Glatzel had a tame header collected by Moulden, before the keeper did well to keep out Leighton Clarkson's effort from outside the box.
Ben Knight came close to doubling City's lead with a rasping half-volley which Jaros was equal to as City looked set to see out the game comfortably.
But with just four minutes remaining Duncan, who moved from City to Liverpool last summer, let fly from range and saw his effort slip through the fingers of Moulden and into the net.
Rowan McDonald nearly won it for City in added-on time as he headed just wide and extra-time saw players from both sides struggle with cramp, although City enjoyed the better of proceedings and created more chances.
That counted for nothing in the lottery of the penalty shootout though and perfection from the spot won Liverpool the cup.
